They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but if you carry the right plastic, you might earn free lunches. You might also get free flights, free hotels, free cash back and interest-free loans. Or maybe you would be better served by cash back on purchases, or a zero percent introductory rate. The key is finding the credit card that gives you the biggest bang for the bucks you’re already spending.

For a full list of every kind of credit card, see the of our Solutions Center. But here are six cards that recently caught our eye to meet different needs. See how they compare to what’s now in your wallet.

Best rewards cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Why we like it: This card offers a whopping 50,000 signup bonus points (worth $625 in travel) after you spend $4,000 in the first three months. And it earns two award points for every $1 spent as you travel and dine around the world, one point per $1 on other purchases.

More details:

Redeem your rewards points on other major airline and loyalty programs on a 1:1 basis.

Get 25 percent more value when you redeem rewards points through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

No blackout dates or travel restrictions.

No foreign transaction fees.

No annual fee for the first year.

Capital One Venture

Why we like it: This card has it all: Two points for every dollar spent, a 50,000-point signup bonus (worth $500 of travel) no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee for the first year. Note, however, that you have to spend $3,000 within the first three months to get the bonus, and the annual fee after year one is $95. Still, if you travel, charge a lot and pay off your balance every month, this one is hard to beat.

More details:

Higher bonus than usual for this card: 50,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 within the first three months.

Earns 2x miles for every $1 spent with no caps.

No foreign transaction fees.

Redeem your rewards on any airline or hotel with no blackout dates.

No annual fee for the first year, $95 after that.

Best cash-back cards

Capital One Quicksilver

Why we like it: Most cash-back cards give you 1 percent back on purchases; this one gives you 1.5 percent. That’s 50 percent more free money. It also gives you a cash bonus, and you only have to spend $500 within the first three months to get it. Finally, there’s no annual fee.

The details:

Earn unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase.

$150 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within your first three months.

Zero percent APR on purchases for the first 15 months.

No annual fee.

No foreign transaction fee.

Chase Freedom

Why we like it: This card is a good one if you want to save as you spend. You get a $150 bonus after spending just $500 in the first three months. There’s 5 percent cash back for some purchases and unlimited 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.

The details:

Spend $500 in the first three months of opening this account and earn a $150 bonus.

Earn 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 of purchases in “bonus categories” each quarter.

Best zero-percent cards

Amex EveryDay

Why we like it: If you’re carrying a balance, finding a card with a zero percent interest rate is a no-brainer way to pay it off a lot faster. Unfortunately, there’s often a hefty fee to transfer an existing high-interest balance to a zero percent interest card. But not this one. As long as you make any balance transfers within 60 days of opening the account, Amex doesn’t charge a transfer fee, and the zero percent interest lasts 15 months.

The details:

Transfer balances without a fee during the first 60 days after account opening.

Both purchases and balance transfers get a zero percent introductory APR for 15 months.

No annual fee.

10,000 rewards points after using the card to make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months.

Wells Fargo Platinum Visa

Why we like it: This card offers zero percent APR on purchases and balance transfers for a full 18 months. For transfers, be sure you weigh the transfer fee against that nice long interest-free period of time to pay off the debt. This card has some other unique features, including up to $600 protection on your cellphone.

Most of the cards featured here require a good to excellent credit score. If that’s not you, no worries! Explore the many alternatives on the of our Solutions Center.

Got a great credit card you’d like to crow about? Tell us about it in the comments below or on

Editor’snote: One of the ways we keep the lights on around here is with referral fees, so we might make a buck or two when you sign up for these cards. But we never let that influence our judgment. You’ll always get our honest advice.

Find the best:

Gillette.com offers its for free with free shipping after you fill out this . This newly launched men's razor is specifically designed for men with sensitive skin and razor bumps. You'd pay about $7 for one of these razors in your local drugstore. Note that it's unclear how many samples are available.

Gillette.com offers its Gillette Men's SkinGuard Razor Sample for free with free shipping after you fill out this form. This ... Read
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Updated: December 30, 2018

Wish you could afford a Van Gogh piece? Well, you're in luck. Kind of. The Van Gogh Museum again offers a selection of for free. This is pretty much the same as owning an original, right? Well, those are valued at $100 million and aren't for sale. However, you could always print these out and hang them on the wall to achieve the illusion of grandeur. And isn't that what life's all about? The illusion of grandeur.

For in-store pickup only, Lowe's offers the for $3.49. Opt for in-store pickup to dodge the $5.99 shipping fee. That's $10 off and the lowest price we could find. Deal ends January 4. Update: Note that pickup availability may now vary by ZIP code.

Home & Cook takes 40% to 85% off a selection of during its . (Enter your email address to view the sale.) Plus, all orders receive free shipping. (It's advertised as $5.95 flat-rate shipping, but it's not currently charging for it.) That yields huge savings on this cookware, with many items costing only a fraction of the price most major retailers charge. Note: These factory-second items may show minor cosmetic blemishes or dents, but there will be no defects that affect performance. All items are final sale. Update: Shipping is now $5.95.

Lucky Brand takes up to 75% off select men's and women's clearance styles as part of its Ultimate Weekend Sale. ... Read
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Updated: 3 days 22 hr ago

Oakley takes 70% off its , with prices starting at $12. (Prices are as marked.) Plus, all orders receive free shipping. Some exclusions may apply. A couple of best bets: for $24 (low by $16) for $54 (pictured, low by $71)

Oakley takes 70% off its men's sale apparel and accessories, with prices starting at $12. (Prices are as marked.) Plus, ... Read
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Updated: 3 days 3 hr ago

YouTube continues to offer a selection of for free (with ads). That's tied with our mention from a month ago and around $3 to $5 less than you'd pay for a rental of these movies elsewhere. Movies include The Terminator (pictured), Europa Report, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and Zookeeper.

takes up to 40% off a selection of , with prices starting from $3.99 $1.99. Shipping adds $6.99, or get free shipping on orders of $50 or more. (In-store pickup may also be available.) It's the first major clearance sale we've seen in over a year.

Duluth Trading Co. takes up to 40% off a selection of clearance styles and items, with prices starting from $3.99 ... Read
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Updated: 5 days 2 hr ago

takes up to 40% off a selection of items via its . (Prices are as marked.) Choose in-store pickup to avoid the $5.99 shipping fee, or get free shipping with orders of $35 or more. A couple of best bets: for $3.77 (low by $1) for $69.99 (pictured, low by $6)

Walmart takes up to 40% off a selection of items via its End of Year Home Clearance. (Prices are as ... Read
more.

Updated: December 28, 2018

Macy's takes 25% to 70% off a selection of . Opt for in-store pickup, where possible, to avoid the $10.95 shipping charge. (Orders of $99 or more bag free shipping, except in cases requiring oversized shipping/white glove delivery, as below) A couple of best bets, each with $99 $48 for shipping: for $629 ($800 off) for $1,348 (pictured, $1,141 off)

Olay offers a sample of its Olay REgenerist Whip Cream for free when you fill out this form. That ties ... Read
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Updated: November 30, 2018

Macy's discounts a selection of , with prices starting at $1.99. (Prices are as marked.) Opt for in-store pickup where available to avoid the $10.95 shipping fee, or spend $99 or more to bag free shipping. A couple of best bets: for $9 (low by $13) from $12.97 $8.99 (pictured, at least $13 off)

Macy's discounts a selection of Christmas decorations, with prices starting at $1.99. (Prices are as marked.) Opt for in-store pickup ... Read
more.

Updated: 3 days 3 hr ago

Walmart discounts a selection of , with prices starting at $5 $5.50. Choose in-store pickup on most items to dodge the shipping fees, which start at $5.99. A couple of best bets: for $14 (low by $3) for $14.40 (pictured, $3 off)

Columbia offers its in Black for $49.99. Coupon code "STAYWARM" cuts the price to $39.99. Plus, Greater Rewards members receive free shipping. (Not a member? It's free to .) That's tied with last week's mention, $60 off list, and a low price for a Columbia waterproof jacket. It's available in sizes XS to M. Deal ends January 29.

Proozy Outlet via eBay offers in several colors (Urban Navy/Shady Blue pictured) for $59.99 $53.99 with free shipping. Although we saw it for $9 less last July, that's still the lowest price we could find today by $40, with most retailers charging around $150. It's available in select sizes from S to 3XL. Note: This item is new but may not include a tag.

Southwest Airlines via DealBase discounts select , with prices starting at $48.98. (On the DealBase landing page, click on "Southwest Airlines" in the top line to see this sale; we found lower fares within.) That's the lowest price we could find for select routes by at least $23. This price is valid for flights departing on February 5 from Burbank, CA, (BUR) with arrival in San Jose, CA, (SJC). Note that blackout dates and other conditions may apply. Book this travel deal by January 24 for travel from January 29 through May 22. All prices, dates, and booking details were valid at the time of publication.

PUMA via Rakuten continues to offer its in Gray or Black for $29.99. Coupon code "APPAREL20" cuts that to $23.99. With free shipping, that's tied with our mention from a week ago as the best deal we've seen. (It's the lowest price now by $12.) They're available in select sizes from 7 to 13. Deal ends January 21. Note: The coupon can be used once per account.

take up to 70% off a range of during its . Opt for in-store pickup to avoid shipping costs, which start at $5.99. (Free shipping is available for select items or on orders of $49 or more via coupon code "263867".) A couple of best bets: for $69.99 (low by $30) for $119 (pictured, $31 off)

Walmart offers the for $9.94. Opt for in-store pickup to dodge the $5.99 shipping fee. That's tied with our mention from two weeks ago and the lowest price we could find by $20 today. It features three blades, and fits all Mach3 blade refills.

Cruises.com via ShermansTravel discounts select with prices starting from $189 per person. Plus, bag , , or on select sailings. Additional fees may apply. Book this travel deal by January 24 for cruises through 2020.

Participating IHOP locations offer All-You-Can Eat-Pancakes for $4.99. That's the best deal we've seen on large quantities of pancakes. Click ... Read
more.

Updated: 2 weeks 1 day ago

32 Degrees continues to offer its in Light Grey for $29.99 with free shipping. That's tied with last week's mention, $100 off list, and the lowest price we could find. It's available in sizes M and L S to XL. Note: This item is final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged. Update: Apply coupon code "FREE" to yield free shipping.

Rakuten takes an extra 20% off a selection of via coupon code "APPAREL20". (It's applicable for up to $30 off.) Plus, most orders receive free shipping. Deal ends January 21. A couple of best bets, with prices after coupon: for $35.99 ($159 off) for $35.99 (pictured, low by $19)

Whether you're looking to shop some deep discounts at Amazon or Walmart, or looking for a great bargain to boost your new year's fitness goals, the last week has seen some extremely popular sales. In fact, let's look at five of the week's hottest deals: for $499 + free s&h : Up to 50% off + free s&h w/ $49 : Up to 50% off + free s&h : Extra 50% off + free s&h w/ $125

Whether you're looking to shop some deep discounts at Amazon or Walmart, or looking for a great bargain to boost ... Read
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Updated: 1 week 1 day ago

It's the first weekend of 2019, and you know what that means: time to buy a cool wall clock! Maybe you didn't actually know that, but now you do. Here's that clock, and four other super-hot deals from the last week: for $16.99 + free s&h : Extra $50 to $100 off + free s&h : Up to 75% off + free s&h : Up to 50% off + free s&h w/ $49 for $9.96 + free s&h w/ beauty item

Backcountry takes up to 60% off a selection of The North Face apparel, shoes, accessories, and gear. (Prices are as ... Read
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Updated: 4 days 7 hr ago

Udemy offers the for $9.99. Coupon code "FREECOUPON" makes it free. That's tied with our mention from two weeks ago, $200 off list, and the best price we could find. It includes lifetime access to over six hours of on-demand video and 13 articles.

GameStop offers the for $149.99$12.99 for shipping. (The price drops in-cart.) That's $33 under with last month's mention and the lowest price we've seen. (It's the best price today by $136.) It features a 17" LCD screen and four games (Asteroids, Major Havoc, Lunar Lander, and Tempest).